Golden Age Legitimate Fei

Chapter 4: Wang Shi's scheme

Chapter 4: Wang Shi's scheme

Fu Imperial Capital

In the Fang Yi yuan residence of the zhumu managing the household in the fu, w.a.n.g shi's ashen face distorted as she cursed in rage over Ye Li, Xu furen, combined with Xu shi's entire family. On the floor were broken teacups and chinaware that had been smashed to the ground. The delicately beautiful Ye Ying silently stood at the side, watching her muqin venting out her rage, a trace of disdain flashing in her eyes.

(yuan – 院 – a residence within a family residence compound)
(zhumu – 主母 – owner 'mother' / mother in charge of the household)
(fu – 府 – official residence / family residence compound / household / term for family and home put together)
(furen – 夫人 – lady or madam of the house / wife)
(muqin – 母亲 – respectful or intimate way of addressing mother)

"Mother, don't let your anger harm your body. Quickly sit down to take a rest." Waiting until w.a.n.g shi's rage had been pretty much vented out, Ye Ying only then went forth with a face filled with concern to reason with her.

w.a.n.g shi seeing her daughter's complexion looking gentle and beautiful as well as clever, she couldn't help but express how her heart was full of grievances as she pulled Ye Ying while weeping, "I have painstakingly managed things in this fu for these many years, when did I ever cause her to feel wronged? Now she went so far as to even steal that bit of dowry from you. Good daughter, when you get married into the Li w.a.n.g fu, if the dowry were to be lessened it won't only just be you who will be made fun of, Zhao Yi niangniang's reputation also wouldn't look good. Aren't I just thinking on the behalf of the fu? That darned yatou actually dropped in earlier than the people from Xu family to say something!"

(niangniang – 娘娘 – term meaning 'mother' but is used when addressing the empress, concubine, female royal, etc. by someone of lower rank)
(yatou -丫头 – young girl / maidservant)

Ye Ying's watery eyes glimmered, she shallowly smiled and softly placated w.a.n.g shi, "Mother, His Highness Li w.a.n.g treats this daughter sincerely, he naturally wouldn't turn his back on me for having less dowry. What's more...the matter this time did indeed wrong elder sister. Giving elder sister some more dowry is a must. To outsiders seeing this, they will see you mother as being merciful and magnanimous for not treating the first wife's daughter badly, right? As for second elder sister...she will certainly understand mother's difficulty."

w.a.n.g shi was startled, thinking about how Ye Li and Xu shi resembled one another in appearance and bearing, and seeing her own daughter looking like she was trying really hard to endure her grievances, the nefarious fire in her heart flared out. Pulling Ye Ying's hand and patting it, she said, "Feel rest a.s.sured, mother of course wouldn't wrong you. Even if not taking care of your dowry, I still definitely won't let that yatou bring that much dowry through the door!" The final words already showed a hint of gnashing her teeth in bitterness.

Ye Ying's eyebrows knitted worriedly. "Then what does mother plan to do?"

w.a.n.g shi obviously planned in advance, smiling contentedly and said, "Mother has her own idea, you just have to focus on preparing your dowry."

The Ye fu's secondary daughter* was presently the most favoured Zhao Yi, and now there were two daughters who have both been bestowed marriages to the most favoured Li w.a.n.g and Da Chu's only heir for succession Ding guow.a.n.g.

(guow.a.n.g – 国王 – former appellation for '亲王 – qinw.a.n.g' which is the highest rank of a prince, used from Han to Ming dynasty)

The Ye family was naturally like a long ferry over high water on a sunny day, once the news of the bestowed marriages came out, there was a continuous stream of high officials and n.o.bles going to the Ye fu to pay a visit, making w.a.n.g shi and Ye laofuren happy to no end.